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[6] [7] [8] The name was first adopted and popularized by the French naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon, as "dugon" in Histoire Naturelle (1765), after descriptions of the animal from the island of Leyte in the Philippines. [6] [8] [9] The name ultimately derives from Proto-Malayo-Polynesian *duyuŋ.
6 days ago · dugong, (Dugong dugon), marine mammal that inhabits the warm coastal waters of the Indian and Pacific Oceans, feeds on seagrasses, and is similar to the manatee.
Dugongs belong to the order Sirenia, so named for the mammary glands akin to human breasts and their nursing behavior. Because of this, some sailors call dugongs mermaids or sirens, from which the name was created. It is interesting to note that, despite dugongs being called ‘sea cows,’ they are more closely related to elephants than to cows.
The legend of the mermaid is based upon sightings by sailors of dugongs. Common names for the dugong include ‘sea cow,’ ’sea pig,’ and ‘sea camel.’. Their name comes from the Talagog name ‘dugong’ which come from the Malay term ‘duyung’ which means ‘lady of the sea.’.
Aug 2, 2022 · There are stories about dugongs being used as surrogate females by fishermen at several places in their vast range, which extends through tropical and sub-tropical coastal and island waters from...
Some believe that dugongs were the inspiration for ancient seafaring tales of mermaids and sirens.
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The dugong is one of the ocean’s most interesting inhabitants. More closely related to the elephant than the dolphin or whale, this gentle seagrass-munching mammal is often given the name ‘sea cow’ and rightly so.
